Soundproof clock case



Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE somvm'aoor CLOCK case can Finch, West Palm Beach, Fla. Application February 23, 1934, serial No. 712,647 4 Claims. (of. ss-ssy This invention relates to clock cases and has for its object the production of a simple and efiicient clock case made of rubber or other similar resilient material whereby the movement of the 5 clock may be firmly held within the case upon resilient mountings such as molded lugs or ribs to provide a noiseless clock. as well as a resilient protecting means for preventins shock to the movement of the clock should the clock be acci- 10 den al-11y dropp d or come into sudden contact with an obstruction or other foreign object.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and emcient resilient clock case which is so constructed as to facilitate the plac- 15 ing of the clock movement within the case, as

well as to facilitate the removal of the clock movement from the case should it be desired to repair the movement.

A further object of thisinvention is the pro- 9 duction of a simple and emcient clock case which is so constructed as to permit the movement of the clock to be completely sealed and at the same time facilitate the placing of the clock movement in posit n Within the casing as well as the re- 35 moval of the clock movement therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient means for resiliently supporting the movement of a clock without the necessity of employing metallic or 30 other rigid securing or anchoring elements, thereby permitting the support of the clock resiliently within the resilient or rubber casing.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following 35 specification and claims.

In the drawing:-

Flgure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the rubber or other resilient clock casing showing the clock movement in position;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 31 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig- 4s ure 1; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a modified form of the clock casing illustrating supporting lugs formed integrally with the casing for supporting the clock works.

50 By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that l0 designates the clock casing which may be of any shape, design or configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention, the clock casing It) being preferably formed of rubber or 66 other suitable resilient material having the characteristics of rubber. The casing I0 is provided with an interior pocket H which is adapted to receive the clock movement l2, which movement is carried in the usual manner by means of the spaced parallel supporting plates l3. The pocket 5 H is provided with a pair of spaced ribs or supporting portions H, which ribs or supporting portions it are Pl'Qvided with longitudinally extending channels I5 in which channels l5 snugly fit the edges or peripheries of the supporting plates ll of the clock movement I2, as shown in Figure l. The ribs I are spaced properly to snugly receive the spaced plates l3 of the clock movement l2 and because of the resilient nature of the body or clock ease ill, the body may be so flexed as to permit the peripheral edges of the plates l3 to easily snap into position and fit within the channels l5 of the supporting portions I4. The clock case I0 is also provided upon the front thereof with an aperture l6 communicating with the pocket H, as shown in Figure 1 and this aperture Ii is provided along its inner wall with a channel I1 into which is fitted the clock face IS, the clock face completely sealing the front of the clock case as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This channel I1 is preferably formed near the inner end of the aperture I6 so as to provide sufficient room for the clock hands I! which are carried by the hand supporting shaft 20. A crystal 2| is fitted in the front end of the aperture l6 and the edges of the crystal 2| are firmly supported within a channel 22 located near the front end of the aperture l6, as shown. The clock face l8 which constitutes a disc or other suitably designed plate, as well as the crystal II, will constitute an eflicient seal for the casing and due to the fact that the casing is formed of rubber or other resilient material the parts may be easily snapped into and out of position, when desired.

The casing I0 is provided along its rear face with an enlarged socket 23 producing a shoulder 24 and within the socket 23 is fitted a rear closure plate 25 preferably also formed of rubber or other resilient material, and this closure plate 25 is provided with a bead 26 around its edge for fitting in the channel 21 formed in the side walls of the socket 23. This bead and channel arrangement will constitute an emcient means for holding the closure plate 25 in position and at the same time permit the closure plate to be removed when desired. The hand supporting shaft 20 may be operated in the usual manner from the rear face of the casing III by means of an operating knob 20 which is carried by the stem or shaft 20, the stem or shaft 20 extending through the aperture 29. The operating knob 28 is removable, as is common to the trade. The winding shaft 30, also extends through an aperture 3| formed in the plate 25 and is operated by means of a suitable operating knob 32 which is also removable to permit the removal of the plate 25, when desired.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form of the invention, wherein the casing 35 of the clock is formed of resilient material such as rubber, and the like, and is provided with lugs 36 located at suitable points along the side Walls 31 of the socket 38. In this modified form, the lugs 36 may be substituted for the ribs M for supporting the clock works 39, shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

It should be understood also, that the present type of easing may be utilized for providing a clock the works of which will be efiiciently protected against jar or injury should the clock drop accidentally from its support, and the same structure may be employed in connection with other clocks or watch movements where the clock or watch is carried in the pocket and is likely to be subjected to sudden jars or contact with foreign objects. Furthermore, the resiliency of the body of the clock will produce a sound-proof casing, and provide a noiseless clock and the particular type of easing will also provide an efficient seal for the movement of the clock to prevent the entrance of moisture, dust, or air, this being due particularly to the fact that an efiicient sealing means is provided in the manner of attaching the closure plate to the rear of the casing and the manner of attaching the clock face and crystal and mounting the same within the receiving aperture.

Certain detail changes in the mechanical construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A casing of the class described particularly adapted for supporting clock and Watch movements formed of material having the characteristics of rubber, the casing having a socket formed therein, and resilient means formed around the walls of the socket for firmly and resiliently engaging a clock or similar movement for resiliently supporting a clock movement within the casing.

2. A casing of the class described particularly adapted for supporting clock and watch movements formed of material having the characteristics of rubber, the casing having a socket formed therein, resilient means formed around the walls of the socket for firmly and resiliently engaging a clock or similar movement for resiliently sup porting a clock movement within the casing, and said means comprising supporting ribs having channels formed therein to provide a seat for the edges of the supporting plates of a clock movement.

3. A casing of the class described particularly adapted for supporting clock and watch movements formed of material having the characteristics of rubber, the casing having a socket formed therein, resilient means formed around the walls of the socket for firmly and resiliently engaging a clock or similar movement for resiliently supporting a clock movement within the casing, and said means comprising supporting lugs having channels formed therein to provide a seat for the edges of the supporting plates of a clock movement.

4. A resilient clock casing comprising a body having a socket formed therein, means for resiliently supporting a clock or other movement to provide a sound-proof casing, said casing having means for supporting a clock face and crystal, said casing also having a closure plate receiving socket, a removable closure plate fitted within said last mentioned socket, means for anchoring said plate in position, said means comprising a bead, formed upon the periphery of the closure plate, and the last mentioned means having a channel for receiving said bead.

CLARK FINCH. 

